Press Conferences

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida: At the Cabinet meeting today, it was decided that the Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States of America, will visit Japan. The Government of Japan welcomes the President as a state guest from April 24 to April 25. While the date of arrival has not been determined, President Obama is expected to arrive on the early morning of April 24 at the latest, and will take part in a series of events.

During President Obama’s visit to Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Obama intend to emphasize the role of the Japan-U.S. Alliance, which has contributed to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, affirm this strong alliance, and map out other specific areas of cooperation between our two countries.

Under the standard procedure of receiving, a state guest is expected to attend the official functions including Welcoming Ceremony, State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, State Banquet, and Farewell Call by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, as well as a summit meeting. During President Obama’s visit, all of the aforesaid functions will take place from April 24 to 25 accordingly. Prime Minister Abe will hold a summit meeting with as well as host a meal for President Obama.

Minister Kishida: Today I distributed a summary of the FY2014 Diplomatic Bluebook at the Cabinet meeting.

Yamaguchi, TV Tokyo: Would it be correct to say that the schedule of President Obama’s visit to Japan will essentially be a one-night and two-day stay?

Minister Kishida: The arrival schedule has not yet been officially announced.

Yamaguchi, TV Tokyo: I believe that when a visit is treated as a State Visit, in most cases it is ordinarily a two-night and three-day stay. How do you view this adjustment to the traditional format?

Minister Kishida: First of all, the arrival schedule is still not clear, so it has not yet been decided whether it will be a two-night and three-day stay. There are many cases in the past in which the series of events that I mentioned earlier were carried out over a period of two days.

When His Excellency Mr. François Hollande, President of the French Republic, visited Japan last year, this was practically a two-day stay, and all of the events that I mentioned were carried out. There are also other cases of the events being carried out in two days in effect, such as when the then U.S. President Bill Clinton visited in 1996, the then Russian President Boris Yeltsin in 1993, and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 1989. In any case, it is my understanding that the arrival schedule has not yet been set.

Yamaguchi, TV Tokyo: I get the impression that it has taken a long time to adjust the schedule. What are your thoughts on this?

Minister Kishida: As for the schedule, the Government of Japan is not in a position to comment on the circumstances of the U.S. side, but it is my understanding that the final adjustments are being made by the U.S. side.

Yamazaki, Fuji TV: As for the report on the Diplomatic Bluebook at the Cabinet meeting, it is being said that China and North Korea might pose threats as the international situation and security situation have recently been very fluid. What is your frank assessment of such comments?

Minister Kishida: In regard to the Diplomatic Bluebook, since the start of the Abe administration, I have engaged in diplomacy that takes a panoramic perspective of the world map. I have visited and carried out diplomacy not only in the Asia-Pacific region but also Europe, North America, Central and South America and other regions, and I feel that these efforts have produced results. The Diplomatic Bluebook depicts regional situations in detail, and Japan’s policy is to make the best use of its diplomatic capacity to contribute even more proactively to peace, stability and prosperity worldwide as a “proactive contributor to peace” based on the principle of international cooperation.

Muramatsu, Asahi Shimbun: Concerning the summit meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Abe, would it be correct to say that at the current point in time, this will most likely be held on April 24?

Minister Kishida: This has not yet been officially announced, but we are of course closely coordinating with the U.S. side. A Japan-U.S. summit meeting will of course be held, and we intend to hold it at an appropriate time for an appropriate amount of time.

Takagi, Kyodo Press: I would like to ask your outlook at the present point in time for your scheduled visit to Russia and your scheduled meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Minister Kishida: Under the current circumstances, there have been no changes whatsoever in my visit to Russia. The specific dates and times are not decided either. Going forward, I intend to respond appropriately while closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine etc. and the responses made by the countries concerned.

Watanabe, NHK: I understand your visit to Russia was agreed at the previous “2+2” meeting, so does that mean that the agreement at that time is still valid?

Minister Kishida: The agreement has not changed in any way.

Watanabe, NHK: That being the case, in terms of the timing of events, if for example some situation occurred and there was a rapid improvement in relations toward Russia, including Europe and the U.S., and so the time was right for visiting Russia, does that mean there is a possibility you would follow your initial schedule?

Minister Kishida: Where that matter is concerned we will respond appropriately while closely watching the situation in Ukraine as well as the circumstances of relevant countries. The policy I have outlined now has not changed.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: And the timing, this spring, has not changed, either?

Minister Kishida: Nothing has changed regarding that agreement.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: Japan, the U.S. and the Republic of Korea will hold talks in Washington DC, in which Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Junichi Ihara will participate. What sort of discussion does the Government of Japan envisage regarding North Korea issues?

Minister Kishida: Director-General Ihara will visit the U.S. from April 7. During his visit, a senior official’s meeting between Japan, the U.S. and the ROK is scheduled to be held. In light of the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit Meeting that took place recently, I expect that views will be exchanged on North Korea and other issues. By all means, I hope that it serves as an opportunity to confirm cooperation and coordination between Japan, the U.S. and the ROK.